Liquid distributor



Sept. 17, 1940. J. H. KNowLl-:s ET AL LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR Filed OC'L. 2,1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 sans INVENTORQS k/o/f/v H. Kwan/55,

SGPL 17, 1940- J. H. KNowLEs ET Al. 2,215,181

LIQU'D DISTRIBUTOR .535,3 j; (1ML l le l ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. l 7,v 1 940 ,PAfrsN'rA 01u-lcs i LIQUID DISTRIBUTOR JohnKnowles, Larchmont, and Harold B. Coul-A ter, Mamaroneck, N. Y.,assignors to The Don- Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofDelaware Application October 2, 1937, Serial No. 167,002

4 Qlaims. (Cl. 299-69) This invention relates' to distributors ordisseminating devices for spraying liquids such as sewage, onto filterbeds or the like. More particularly it relates to the rotary type 5 ofdistributor having radial distributing or spray arms and, in thepreferred embodiment, contemplates improvements in the rotaryhydraulically operated type of machine wherein rotation of the sprayarms'is produced by the hydraulic l reaction of sprays of liquid emitedfrom orifices arranged laterally in the radial arms or spray pipes whichare vcarried by suitable rotative supporting structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotativeliquid distributor of sturdy and compact `construction having a minimumof constructional elements and requiring relatively small vertical spacefor its proper positioning and functioning with regard to the ltel bed.

Another object is to provide, in liquid distributing devices, a centerassembly or rotativesupporting structure for the spray arms that may bemounted in a rigid and substantial manner and which will rotate with aminimum amount of friction, thus increasing the effect of the hydraulicreaction of the sprays when the device is in operation. v y

A further object is to provide a liquid distributing device soconstructed as to permit a higher rate or volume of liquid feed to thedevice than has been possible' with prior constructions.

With these and other objects in, view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forthin the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changesin the form, proportion and minor de- 40 tails of construction, withinthe scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section and with certain parts brokenaway, of a liquid distributing device embodying featuresj of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing in detail the ycenterassembly or rotative supporting structure of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Centrally disposed of the lter bed I and up- 5 standing therein is astationary supporting 'foundation 2 of concrete or other suitablematerial having a central conduit or passageway 3 for conductingtherethrough liquid which is supplied through the inlet pipe or conduit4. The foundation z supports a stationary bearing member 5 which in turnaccommodates a rotatable supporting structure generally indicated by thenumeral 6. The supporting structure 6 includes a hollow body portion 'I,an upstanding tubular section 8 and radially extending sockets 9 whichcarry and support the radial spray arms or pipes III, the same beingfirmly secured in the sockets by suitable packing I0a. These spray pipesmay be of any desired length, size and configuration, but are hereinshown to be substantially eliptical in cross-section and tapering fromtheir inner to their outer ends. The spray pipes are further supportedby means of the upstanding tubular section 8 and connecting guyingstructure II in a manner Well-known in the art. 'I'he arms Il)` areprovided substantially throughout their length with a plurality ofaligned openings for the discharge of liquid onto the filter bed I whichliquid is caused to assume a fanlike spray upon emission from thevarious openings by means of deector elements I 2 extendingsubstantially throughout the length of the spray arms, the ends of thearms being closed in any suitable manner. The peculiar shape andarrangement of the spray arms I 0, the arrangement of the dischargeports and the deilector elements I2 form no part of the presentinvention, these features Abeing covered in the pending application ofNels B.- Lund, Serial No. 200,940, filed April 8, 1938.

The features of the present invention will be seen in detail in Figs. 3and 4. 'I'he concrete base supports the stationary bearing element 5through the medium of the embedded bolts I3, nuts I4 and I5, andgrouting I6. In erecting the apparatus, the bearing member 5 ispositioned on the bolts I3 which are embedded in the concrete base andrests upon the nuts I5. The nuts I4 and I5 may be adjusted to positionthe bearing member 5 at the desired elevation and in the desired plane.Thereafter thegrouting I6 is applied and when set, there is afforded arm, stationary and rigid base for support of the rotatable centerassembly 6.

The stationary bearing member 5 preferably is in the form of an annularcasting and is provided atits upp'er face with an annular upstandingflange I1 which, in cross-section, is in the I structure 6 is providedwith a bottom or under cant as indicated at 22.

surface 20 constituting a rotatable bearing surface or member and whichis adapted to be supported upon the stationary bearing member 5 forrotation thereon. There is therefore provided a downwardly dependingannular flange 2| which is oiset from the stepped portion I8 of themember 5 in order to form a bearing retaining pocket or raceway asclearly seen inFig. 3 of the drawings. It will be seen that the undersurface 20 of the rotatable supporting member 6 rests upon the ballbearingsi9 Yso that it may rotate freely thereon. The space between .theinverted L-shaped flange I1 and the stepped portion I8 affords a chamberfor retaining a lubri- Oil or grease may be deposited in the receptacle23, which is provided with a removable cap, and is then free to flowthrough the connecting pipe 24 into the lubricant chamber 22- from whichit may be drained as` occasion requires through the drain pipe 25normally closed by a removable cap 26. t In order' to maintain thelubricant within the chamber 22 and in intimate contact with the bearingelements I9, there are provided the annular brous sealing strips 21 and28y which are embedded in upstanding portions of the stationary' bearingmember 5 and normally engage with the under surface 20 ofthe rotatablesupporting structure so as to effectively prevent escape of thelubricant.

It will be noticed that the balls I9 are shown to be alternately. andsuccessively-of large and small diameter.

are spaced from one another by spacing balls I9b, all of a diameter lessthan that of the balls I 9a'. 'Ihis arrangement affords a composite ballbearing structureV which will operate easily and with a minimum offriction. It will `be understood, however, that this construction ismerely that preferred and the balls may be all of substantially uniformsize or any other suitable form of bearing' surface may be substitutedfor that shown herein.

At several points around its periphery, herein shown to be four equallyspaced points, to the' upper outer edge of the rotatable bearing member20 there are attached by means of bolts 29 the channel sections orU-shaped members 30. As will be seeny one iiange-of the channel sections30 is rigidly attached to the portion 2U of the.` rotatable supportingstructure and the other ange 6i.' the channel sections extends under andsubstantially interlocks with the inverted L- shaped ange I1. By thisinterlocking arrangement it will be seen that any substantialinclinationof the supporting structure Ii to tilt in any direction from thevertical .will be opposed ,by the interengagement of these elements sothat vany tilting of the rotatable supporting structure acusanK A l iseffectually prevented. Sufflcient clearance is.

In other words, the balls i90., which furnish the actual bearingsurface, are of a suitable substantially uniform diameter and providedbetween the channels 30 and the flange I1 sov that there will be nofrictional engagement of the two under normal operating conditions, butthe relationship of these elements is close enough so that therotatablestructure 6 can deviate very little at all from a verticalposition.

Depending 'from the inner annulus of stationary bearing member 5, eitherintegral therewith or attached thereto in' suitable manner. is adouble-walled cylinder 3I supplying the dual functions of an inlet forliquid being supplied to the spray arms and a chamber for retaining asealing liquid. The outer and inner walls 32 and 33 respectively of thiscylindrical member areA closed at thebottomvas at 34 and spaced. fromone another to provide the annular chamber 35 for retaining a sealingliquid as will be further described. As illustrated by the arrows inFig. 3, the liquid to be vtreated flows through the inlet pipe 4 intothe passageway 3 and thence upwardly through the double-walledcylindrical conduit 3| into the hollow body portion 1 of the rotatablesupporting structure and then passes out yinto the radial spray pipes I0to be distributed over the surface of the lter bed by means of suitableports and the deflectors I2.

The bottom portion 20 of the rotatable supporting structure carries adownwardly' depending ,circular sleeve 360i appropriate diameter to bereceived within the chamber 35 and spaced approximately equally distantfrom the walls 32 and 33. Mercury or other suitable sealing liquid issupplied to the chamber 35 through the receptacle 31 which is providedwith a removablecap and the connecting pipe 38. It will be seen that thesealing liquid will -ilow through 38 to the interior of the hollow bodymember 1 and down into the chamber 35, a suflicient supply beingmaintained within this chamber. to effectively maintain a seal andprevent escape from the apparatus of thev liquid being treated. Meansare provided by a pipe 39 and cap l0 for draining from the chamber 35the mercury or other sealing liquid therein whenever such action isdesired. f y

vThe features oi' the present invention are of particular advantage inthe construction and operation of liquid distributors of relativelylarge size and volume. Manifestly ina machine of this type having quitelengthy spray arms, there vis tendency for the rotatable structure totilt or wobble from the horizontal, particularly should the flow to thedistributor be not even and smooth. 'Ihe present invention obviatesthese 'difliculties by providing the large diameter bearing members 5and 20 which support the rotatincluding the sturdy concrete foundation 2permit the use of inuent or feed conduits of large cross-sectional area,,thereby allowing muchv greater volumes of liquid'to be supplied to thedistributor' and at higher rates of ilowthan heretofor'e possible.

Despite the fact that distributors of the present invention may beconstructed on a larger scale than has lheretofore beenpossible, thearrangement of the bearing construction including .fthe

ball bearings I9 operating in a bath of:lubricant at all times providesa rotatable structure that will operate quite easily and with a. minimumof friction. 'Ihis feature is of importance in that the apparatus ofnecessityis frequently required to operate with only a very small headon the liquid being supplied to it or by a minimum amount of pumpingforce applied to the liquid being treated. Since the machine is rotatedpurely by the force or reaction of liquid emitted from the orificesprovided throughoutv the length of the spray arms l0, it is manifestthat in order to operate efficiently, the machine, particularly if oflarge and heavy construction, must be Well balanced and able to rotatefreely and with a minimum of friction to be overcome by the force of theliquid spray. The present invention presents just these advantages amongothers, and a maximum result of the spray force is realized even thoughthe liquid is supplied under a very low head or pump pressure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a liquid distributor for filter beds and the like, a stationaryfoundation, a stationary beary ing member carried by said foundation, arotatable supporting structure cooperating with said stationary bearingmember and adapted to rotate thereupon, liquid spray arms carried bysaidsupporting structure, said stationary bearing member having anupstanding annular flange substantially inverted' L-shaped incross-section, and a channel section attached to a part of saidrotatable supporting structure and interlocking with said annular flangeto prevent substantial tilting of said supporting structure.

2. In a liquid distributor for filter beds and the like and adapted formounting in fluid-tight engagement with a foundation constructed toprovide in effect an up-flow feed conduit for the distributor, saidliquid distributor having a rotary member provided With radiallyextending reaction-driven distributor arms', and further having annularbearing means for operatively supporting said rotary member upon saidfoundation, there being provided an annular stationary base member forsaid bearing means, which base member in turn is adapted for mounting`upon said foundation, a sealing arrangement effective between therotary and the stationary member and comprising an annular portionextending from the inner margin ofl said annular base member to form aninwardly disposed annular sealing cup adapted to receive a sealingliquid heavier than water, and a cylindrical sealing porltionconstituting part of and extending down- JOHN H. KNOWLES. HAROLD B.COULTER.

